Bed



J. M. WALLACE.

BED.

APPLlCATION FILED APR.9, 1919.

1,363,295. N Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

i a snsfls-susm 1.

J. M. WALLACE.

BED.

APPLICATION FILED APFLQ, 1913.

1,363,295, 7 Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J; M. WALLACE.

BED. APEILICATION FILED APR. 9, 1919.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

. znztjiz' JIM/V1 4. mLLA T FFICE.

JOHN M. WALLACE, OF HOUSTDN, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Joint M. VVALLACE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Beds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying draw; ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to invalid beds, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a bed with separate mattress supporting spring frames, said frames being arranged, as will be hereinafter set forth, so that they can be separately adjusted in order to support an invalid in a desired position, either for reading, resting or operating purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide positive and reliable means for adjusting the spring frames, such means being easily operated and readily accessible to an attendant.

A further object of this invention is to accomplish the results above referred to by an invalid bed which is simple in construction, cheaply manufactured and easily taken apart for crating and shipping.

A bed embodying the principles of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bed.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical section on the line 11 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the manner of pivoting a spring frame to the side bar of the bed.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a part of the center spring frame showing the manner of tilting this frame.

As shown in said drawings, the frame of the bed is made in the usual manner with a head piece 1 and a foot piece 2, and two side bars 3, 3, preferably of angle iron, with their rounded tapered ends inserted in the sockets 1, 4;, attached to the head and foot pieces, in the ordinary manner.

Between the side bars 8, 3, and the head and foot pieces, are located four separate adjustable spring frames, namely: a head frame 6, a center frame 7, and two foot frames 8 and 9, the latter lying side by side. These frames normally lie in the same plane, and substantially fill the space between the side bars and the head and foot pieces.

The bed adapted for use with a mattress formed of sections corresponding in shape to the separate spring frames.

The head frame 6 is formed of the two side member angle irons 11 and 12, lying adjacent and parallel to the main frame side bars 3, 3, at the head of the bed, their head ends being joined by the angle iron 13, lying adjacent and parallel to the head piece. Stretched between the side member angle irons 11 and 12 is a spring fabric of ordinary construction, the same being held taut by means of spiral springs hooked into the angle irons in the usual manner. The foot ends of the angle irons 11 and 12 forming the sides of the head frame are pivoted to the main side bars 3, 3, of the bed as shown in Fig. 5, in which 15 is a bracket riveted to the horizontal flange of the side bar 3, and 16 is a pivot pin pivotally connecting the vertical flange of the angle iron 12 with the vertical part of the bracket In order to strengthen. the head frame 6 and remove the strain of the spring tension from the pivots 16, 16, there are provided on the angle irons 11 and 12 at points a short distance from the pivots, two rigidly riveted depenc ing brackets 18, 18, with their lower ends joined by are angle iron 19. It will be apparent that the head end of the head frame 6 may be raised and lowered, allowing its foot end to pivot on the pivots 16, 16.

The following described means are provided for so adjusting the head frame 6:

Riveted to the main side bars 3, 3, of the bed frame at points about half way between the head ends and their center points are two depending brackets 21. 21. bearing at their lower ends the forks 22, 22, which support the worms 23, 23. The shafts of the worms 23, 23, are extended and have at their upper ends bevel gears 24, 24. The brackets 21, 21, also support through transversely arranged bearing apertures, a transverse shaft 30, which has keyed to it at each end, inside the brackets 21, 21, bevel gears 31, 31. These gears 31, 31 mesh with the bevel gears 24, 24; The ends of the shaft 30 extend beyond the brackets, 21, 21, and are preferably squared in order to furnish a means of rotation by the use of a wrench or suitable crank with a squared socket. It will be evident that the rotation of the shaft 30 will rotate the bevel gears31, 31, the bevel gears 24, 24, and the worms 23, 23. The worms 23, 23, engage with the teeth of two depending segmental racks 34, 34, the upper ends of which are attached to the side members 11 and 12, of the head frame 6, at about their center points. It is evident, therefore, that rotation ofthe shaft 30 will raise or lower the head end of the frame 6 and cause it to pivot at its foot end.

The center frame 7 is composed of two.

parallel side member angle irons 40 and 41, lying inside and parallel to the main frame side bars 3, 3, with any suitable spring fabric stretched between them, in the same manner as the spring fabric is stretched between the members 11 and 12 of the frame 6, or otherwise. The foot ends of the side members 40 and 41 are rigidly connected by the cross member 42 which is riveted to the depending brackets 43, 48. The head. ends of the side members 40 and 41 are pivoted at 44, 44, to the side bars 45, 45, of a sub-frame 7 The side members 45, 45 of the subframe 7 are rigidly connected at both their ends by the transverse members 46 and 47, the ends of which are bent upwardly and riveted thereto. It is apparent that the center frame 7 may be pivoted at its head end on the pivots 44, 44, and its foot end raised or lowered. Depending pivoted notched segments 50, 50 from the side members 40 and projecting from the side members 45, 45 of the sub-frame 7 in order to hold the frame 7 at the desired inclination. Means are also provided for raising and lowering the subframe bodily regardless of the inclination at which the frame may be adjusted. The means for so raising and lowering the subframe are described as follows:

Depending from the side bars 3, 3, of the bed, at about their center points, are two brackets 69, 60. To the inner surfaces of each of the brackets 60, is fastened a vertical rail or guide 61, having on its inner face a vertical rectangular groove 62. At the bottom of each bracket 60 below the end of the guide 61 is fastened a flat horizontal plate 63 with a cross shaped hole 64 through it. Near the bottom end of each bracket 60 to the side of the guide 61, toward the head is fastened a forked member 65 supporting a worm 66, the shaft of which is extended downwardly with a bevel gear 67 on its end. The brackets 60, 60 also support through holes at their bottom ends the transverse shaft 7 0, having keyed to its ends inside of the brackets 60, 60, the bevel gears 68, 68, which mesh with the bevel gears 67, 67. The ends of the shaft 70 are extended through and beyond the brackets 60, 60, and theends squared in order to permit it to be rotated by means of a wrench or suitable crank with a squared socket. Depending from the side members 45, 45, of the subframe, are two racks 80, 80, adapted for engagement with the worms 66, 66. The racks 80, have guides 81, 81, on their sides and in cross section are substantially the shape of a cross. The racks 80, 80, are adapted to operate in the cross shaped holes 64, 64, in the projections 63, 63 at the bottoms of the brackets 60, 60, the flanges 81, 81 operating in the grooves 62, 62 in the guides 61, 61, thus maintaining the sub-frame in a horizontal position while being raised or lowered. It is apparent that rotation of the shaft 7 0 will rotate the bevel gears 68, 68, the bevel gears 67, 67, the worms 66, 66, and raise or lower the racks 80, 80, thus raising or lowering the sub-frame 7 to which is attached the center frame7.

The two foot frames 8 and 9 are similar and a description, therefore, of one, will suffice to describe both. The foot frame 8 is formed of two parallel side member angle irons and 91 with the spring fabric stretched between them in the same manner as in the head and center frames. The angle iron 90 lies adjacent and parallel to the side bar of the bed and the angle iron 91 lies just to the side of the center line of the bed and parallel to the angle iron 90. The foot ends of the members 90 and 91 are rigidly joined by the cross member 92. The head end of the angle iron 90 is pivoted to the side bar 3 of the bed in the-same manner as the angle iron 12 of the head frame 6 is pivoted to a side bar The head end of the angle iron 91 is pivoted at 93 to the upper end of the vertical strap iron 94 which is supported by the cross members 95 and 96, the ends of which are riveted to the depending straps 97, 97, which are fastened at the upper ends to the side bars of the bed. The depending straps 97, 97, are held rigid by horizontal braces 98, 98, extending from their lower ends to the lower ends of the brackets, 60, 60. It is apparent that the foot frames 8 or 9 may be caused to pivot at their head ends and their foot ends raised or loweredto ob.-

tain a desired inclination.

The following means are provided for holding these frames at the desired angle: Depending from the cross members 95 and 96 at points about half way between their center points and ends are two downwardly extending strap irons 98 98, with slots 99, 99 in their lower ends as seen in Fig. 4. At about the' center of each of the foot frames 8 and 9 is a rigidly mounted cross bar 100, having pivotedly attached thereto a notched segment 101, the end of which is adapted to be inserted through the corresponding slot 99 in the strap 98", and the notches of which are adapted to engage with the bottom edge of such slot. A hook 105 is also provided at the inner foot end of the section 9 and adapted for engagement with a pin 106 on the inner foot end of section 8 in order to lock the two sections together. When it is desired to tilt a foot frame, the hook 105 is detached from the pin 106, the notched segment 101 is raised until its notches are free from the bottom edge of the slot 99, the frame is adjusted to the desired inclination, and the segment 101 is released and one of its notches permitted to engage with the edge of the slot 99, thus holding the frame ri id.

Although I have shown and described my invention in a form which I have demonstrated by practical tests to be adapted to successful use, yet I do not intend to be limited to the precise details of construction shown, except as the same may be made the subject of specific claims herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. An invalid bed comprising a main frame, a horizontal, rectangular sub-frame mounted upon and vertically movable with relation to the main frame, and a center spring frame pivotally mounted on said subframe and adapted for vertical and angular movement with respect to the main frame.

2. An invalid bed comprising a main frame, a horizontal, rectangular sub-frame mounted upon and vertically movable with relation to the main frame, and a center spring frame pivotally mounted on said subframe and adapted for vertical and angular movement with respect to the main frame, and means for raising and lowering said center frame when in its angular or tilted position.

3. An invalid bed comprising a main frame, a plurality of separately movable spring frames, a center frame adapted for angular vertical movement with respect to the main frame, and a horizontal, rectangular sub-frame to which said center frame is pivoted.

at. An invalid bed comprising a main frame, a plurality of separately movable spring frames, a center frame adapted for angular vertical movement with respect to the main frame and a horizontal, rectangular sub-frame to which said center frame is pivoted, means for tilting the center frame with respect to the sub-frame, and means for raising and lowering the sub-frame.

An invalid bed comprising a main frame, a movable sub-frame, a center frame supported on said sub-frame, and adapted. to be tilted with respect thereto, means for raising and lowering the sub-frame, said means comprising racks depending from the sub-frame, and rotatable worms in operative engagement therewith, said worms being mounted on the main side bars of the main frame.

6. An invalid bed comprising a main frame having head and foot pieces and two side bar members, independently adjustable head and foot spring sections separately mounted on the main frame, a sub-frame mounted upon and vertically movable with respect to the main frame, a center spring frame pivotally mounted on the sub-frame, means for holding the center frame in tilted position with respect to the sub-frame, and means for raising and lowering the subframe.

7. An invalid bed comprising a sub-frame, a main frame having head and foot pieces and two side bar members and separate adjustable spring frames mounted upon the bed, a center frame pivotally mounted upon the sub-frame, said sub-frame being mounted upon and vertically movable with respect to the main frame, means for holding the center frame in a tilted position with respect to the sub-frame, said means comprising two pivoted notch segments depending from the center frame and pins on the subframe adapted for operative engagement with said segments, and means for raising and lowering thesub-frame.

8. An invalid bed comprising a sub-frame, a main frame having head and foot pieces and two side bar members and separate adjustable spring frames mounted upon the bed, a center frame pivotally mounted upon the sub-frame, said sub-frame being mounted upon the main frame and vertically movable with respect to said main frame, means for holding the center frame in a tilted position with respect to the sub-frame and means for raising and lowering the subframe, comprising racks depending from the sub-frame, rotatable worms on the side bars of the main frame in operative engagement with said racks and means for rotating said worms.

9. An invalid bed comprising a main frame having head and foot pieces and two side bar members, independently adjustable head and foot spring sections separately mounted on the main frame, a sub-frame mounted upon and vertically movable with respect to the main frame, a center spring frame pivotally mounted on the sub-frame, means for holding the center frame in a tilted position with respect to the sub-frame and means for raising and lowering the subframe, comprising two racks depending from the sub-frame, two brackets, one sepresence of two Witnesses, this 5th day of cured to each of the side bars, a Worm 170- April, A. D. 1919. tatably mounted on each bracket and in 0perative engagement With a rack, and means JOHN WVALLACE' for rotating said Worms. WVitnesses:

In testimony that I claim the foregoing A. D. SIMPSON, as my invention I affix my signature in the A. T. FISHER. 

